Anthony Joshua Issues Mic Drop Call Out to Tyson Fury After Jake Paul Win

Anthony Joshua called out longtime rival Tyson Fury for a blockbuster fight in 2026, just moments after stopping YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round.

It took former heavyweight champion and overwhelming favourite Joshua until the fifth round to land his first knockdown of the contest, with Paul hitting the canvas twice during an eventful three minutes at the Kaseya Center in Miami.

An exhausted Paul appeared to have accepted his fate at the start of round six and, although he managed to get to his feet after a third knockdown, a fourth proved one too many following a powerful right hand from AJ.

Joshua was full of praise for Paul in his post-fight interview. "He's done really well tonight... I want to give him his props," said the Brit. "It takes a real man to do that. Anyone who laces up these gloves, you give them respect."

Moments later, AJ proceeded to call out an old foe.

"If Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers, and put on some gloves, and come and fight one of the realest fighters out there, then step in the ring with me next if you're a real bad boy," he said.

Joshua added: "Let's see you in the ring and talk with your fists."

Joshua's callout comes just days after Fury called him "a classless loser".

"He's a 37-year-old at the end of his career fighting a YouTuber, a Disney Channel guy who Tommy (Fury) beat," Fury said of Joshua's bout with Paul. "Here's a fun fact. If I ever come across you, I'm knocking you spark out.

"I ain't a YouTuber or a man half your size. I am him. The man. You are a classless loser coming off a 15-month knockout defeat to a local lad. Imagine if someone from Morecambe knocked me out. You big bum useless dosser."

Fury added: "I can't wait if Jake Paul knocks you spark out, you big dosser."

The self-proclaimed 'Gypsy King', who announced his retirement from boxing in early 2025 following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, recently appeared to confirm his comeback, saying: "The king must return to his throne."

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A few days later and The Ring Magazine claimed that Fury will indeed make a comeback to the ring against Joshua, with the bout set to headline a Riyadh Season mega-event in 2026.

"Sources have advised The Ring that a highly anticipated showdown between former heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will headline a Riyadh Season mega-event in 2026," said The Ring Magazine.

"Before that collision happens, The Ring has also learned that Fury and Joshua are slated to see action in separate fights as part of next year's Riyadh Season."

Fury’s wife, Paris, and his wider family do not want the former unified champion to make a return to the ring following consecutive defeats to heavyweight champion Usyk, according to promoter Frank Warren.